This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Serta for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you have ever experienced the joys of adulting (paying large sums of money for joyless things like a plumber or new tires, changing 8,000 diapers, paying taxes, etc.) then you have surely experienced poor sleep. Stress is a major thief of rest, and when people are having trouble sleeping, stress is often the first thing we look at to try to determine how to improve the situation. That’s definitely a great place to start, but it’s not the only place to look! There are several things happening in the bedroom, itself, that can hinder you from sleeping in comfort, and yet most people overlook these problems and continue to wake up exhausted.

Serta is well aware of these extra steps you can take that will set the mood for great sleep, and so in partnership with comedian Loni Love, ComfortSutra is being launched! This is a cheeky and fun guide to comfort in the bedroom to help people get back to the great sleep they once knew and loved. I’m helping out with the program by sharing a few things I do to “set the mood” for sleep!

1. Do It in the Dark

Surely you have heard the advice to create ambient, restful lighting in your room through candles, right? It might be pretty, but it’s dangerous to do if there’s even the slightest chance that you might be falling asleep any time soon, and furthermore, our bodies truly need dark in order for our brains to understand that it is time to shut down the wheels turning in there and go to sleep. So ditch the candles or the light dimmer and get some blackout curtains if needed to ensure that when it’s time for light’s out, the lights are totally out!

2. Viewer Discretion Advised

Some of the best marriage advice you can take is to keep a television out of your bedroom. But this advice can positively impact much more than your romantic life, friends. The glow from screens (including hand held ones, all you phone addicts!) disrupts our circadian rhythm and confuses our brain, making it harder for us to fall asleep when we should. One of the best things you can do for your sleep is to get rid of the television in your bedroom if you have one there, and to have a phone docking station outside of your room to help you avoid the temptation to check Facebook one more time before heading to bed.

3. Get Naked

Well, friends, this advice is pretty cut and dry. I am literally suggesting that you try sleeping sans-pajamas and really sans anything except your birthday suit. It may not be the option that works best for you, but it also just might surprise you! Comfy sheets directly on the skin can feel so soft and wonderful and help your body relax naturally. Additionally, ditching the clothes might help you cool down a bit, and cooler temps have been shown to promote better sleep. Run your ceiling fan, if you have one, for good measure.

4. Dirty Little Secrets

Is your bedroom a disaster zone? I can relate, if so! It’s the room that company rarely sees, so it gets neglected the most. But I’ve come to realize that this lack of attention to detail in my room has made it an uncomfortable place to sleep. Studies have actually shown that those who keep their bedrooms clutter-free and their beds made actually sleep better! If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. If the last thing you see before you go to bed is piles of clutter, your brain takes all of that in as a source of stress. Additionally, folks sleep better who wash their sheets weekly. Think about how wonderful it is to climb into bed with crisp, clean sheets waiting for you. Don’t let this laundry task slide for too long for the sake of good sleep, friends!

5. Wake Up Still Smiling

When you lay down on your mattress, does it make you smile? Can you feel your muscles relaxing and your body surrendering to some awesome comfort? And do you still feel that way when you wake up? If so, then you are rockin’ the right mattress, which is yet another significant part of getting the best sleep of your life. But if you don’t feel that way when you lay down or wake up, then it might be time to start looking for your perfect mattress match.

ComfortSutra Challenge

A great way to start your search is by heading to your nearest Serta retail location to learn about their great products. While you are there, take a selfie with a Serta mattress and post it to social media with a note about how you like to get comfortable, including the tags #SertaComfortSutra and #entry. This will give you the chance to win a full bedroom makeover, including a new mattress and accessories and the grand prize of Serta “Comfort for Life” which includes a mattress of your choice, free of charge, every 5-7 years!!! The contest begins on August 26th and ends September 6th, so get yourself over to a Serta location quick and get entered!

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Welcome!

Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]